Eco-Acoustic Violin Composition Based on an Auditory Walk

Cityscapes
In collaboration with Marta Kluba | Designer & Musician
Wrocław, Poland

Cityscapes as a collaborative project exploring the urban soundscape of Wrocław through an auditory walk. The project translates the rhythms, textures, and atmospheres of the city into a violin composition, using three distinctive urban scenarios as musical inspiration. The journey moves from a bustling street junction, through a serene park, and concludes at the quiet promenade of the Odra River, capturing the dynamic range of the city’s sonic environments.

Process

• Soundwalk: Identification and sketching of urban and natural sounds along the auditory path.
• Violin Composition: Creation of a musical piece reflecting the temporal and spatial dynamics of the selected sites.

Urban Scenarios as Sound Time-Lapses

The project interprets three urban scenarios as time-lapsed sound experiences, from high-intensity urban activity to calm natural environments:

1. First Time-Lapse: Street Junction on Tragutta Street and Plac Powstańców Warszawy
   • Traffic lights act as conductors, synchronizing light and sound to guide the movement of pedestrians, cyclists, and vehicles.
   • Rhythmic, cyclical sounds of brakes, engines, and tram warnings create a dynamic urban symphony, capturing the city’s energetic pulse.
2. Second Time-Lapse: Juliusz Słowacki Park
   • The park at sunset offers a transition to calmer auditory textures, highlighting the sounds of birds and gentle environmental rhythms.
   • The violin composition mirrors the park’s serene and meditative atmosphere.
3. Third Time-Lapse: Odra River Promenade
   • The riverside provides open space and environmental quietness, contrasting with the earlier urban intensity.
   • Natural ambient sounds inspire a reflective and spacious musical passage.

On-Site Explorations | Soundscapes

The sound mapping was conducted during sunset, capturing the changing atmospheres and temporal rhythms of Wrocław’s urban landscapes. Each scenario became a foundation for the eco-acoustic violin composition, transforming the city’s everyday sounds into an immersive auditory experience.